Tanning process.



UNITED STATES Patented December 13, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH M. BROWVN AND LEWIS C. SMITH, OF VVESTPLAINS, MISSOURI.

TANNING PROCESS SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.777,072, dated December 13, 1904.

Application filed May 28, 1904. Serial No. 210,272- (No specimens.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, Josnrn' M. BROWN and Lnwrs (3. SMITH, citizens ofthe United States, residing at VVestplainsJn the county of Howell andState of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTanning Processes; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

Our invention relates to a tanning process for hides, skins, &c., forproducing a high quality of leather, furs, and the like; and ourinvention consists of certain novel features of combination of elementswhich experience, research, and experiment have demonstrated to us asbeing all that is desirable to produce a piece of leather of the desiredquality or preparing skins for use either with the fur or hair remainingthereon or denuded of such natural covering.

The object of our invention, therefore, is to provide for the tannedleather or skin all of the desirable qualities, such as a proper degreeof flexibility, great strength, and capacity to resist wear.

Our process of treating skins, pelts, hides, &c., will be found of verysimple though reliably efficient character, and a skin, hide, or thelike treated by our process or method of tanning will produce a mostuseful article of leather, as will be hereinafter made fully apparent.

In carrying out our tanning process and ap plying our compound to thehides, skins, 620., the process differs slightly when the fur or hair isto be left upon the skin or if it is to be taken off. lfv the hair orfur is to be left on the skin, they are first softened by standing inclear water a proper length of time, when all surplus flesh is removedtherefrom, as by scraping. We then dissolve one quart-er pound of boraxin two gall ps of water and wash the hides therewith to thoroughlyremove the grease, oils, 8:0. If, however, the skins are to be denudedof their natural covering of hair, fur, &c., the hides are firstsoftened in clear Water by standing therein a proper time, when allflesh, &c., is removed,

as by scraping. The skins are then placed in lime-water, the lime-waterbeing in quantities sufficient to cover the skins. By remaining in thislime water a proper amount of time the hair or fur will readily come offof the same. The skins are then placed in clear water, so that thesurplus lime-water may be entirely removed. The skins thus denuded ofthe hair, fur, &c., are then placed in a compound the constituentproportions of which are as follows: one pound extract of oak, one-halfounce extract of sumac or one pound gum-gambier, to which for treatingthe skins to be tanned with the hair or fur remaining thereon may beadded one-half ounce oil of cedar and one-half pound pulverized alum.

It will be understood that the foregoing formula is intended for tenderskinsas calfskin, sheep-hides, &c.and it is therefore obvious that forthe tanning of heavier and coarser hides the proportions or quantitiesof the ingredients named shall be increased so as to produce the bestresults.

It will be understood that the skins are to remain in the compound orooze from eight to twelve days, more or less, according to the strengthof the compound and the thickness of the skins being treated.

In order that the ingredients may be properly mixed, we first dissolvethe extract of oak or gum-gambier in hot water, preferably in a newbrass vessel. After this is cool add other ingredients. Then dip thehides thereina number of times until thoroughly colored. Then let thehide remain in the ooze the required time, as above set forth, and aftersuch treatment the hides will be thoroughly tanned and may be taken outand washed in clear water, both sides of the skin to then be oiled,preferably with fish-oil, and hung in the shade until dry.

It is thought that from the foregoing our process of tanning will bemade clearly apparl. A process of tanning, comprising the Washing of thehides in clear Water and the removal therefrom of all flesh and theplacing of the hides in a compound made of borax and Water in which theskins are to be Washed, and then applying to the skins a compound ofextract of oak, extract of sumac, gum-gambier, oil of cedar,substantially in the proportions specified and for the purpose setforth.

2. A process of tanning comprising the Washing of the hides in clearWater and the removal therefrom of all flesh and the placing of thehides in a compound made of horax and Water in which the skins are to beWashed,

his JOSEPH M. BROWN.

LEWIS C. SMITH. Witnesses:

C. W. OLIVIR, O. P. A. HEINRICH.

